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Perth to be promoted as international travel hub under new plan

Giovanni TorreEastern Reporter

PERTH will be promoted to international markets as a regional transport hub under a new $5.7 million deal.

With the arrival of non-stop flights between Perth and London due in March 2018, Tourism WA and Qantas will work to urge travellers to use Perth as a gateway to Australia and her neighbours.

Encouraging travel to regional WA will also be part of the campaign.

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Premier Colin Barnett said $2.85 million each from Tourism WA and Qantas would fund the project.

“We have all seen what becoming an airline hub has done for cities like Singapore and Dubai, and the same can happen here in Perth,” Mr Barnett said.

“Knowing they have to fly through WA, people will look to break up their journey and the marketing activity from this agreement will promote what’s on offer in Perth and regional areas.”

Mr Barnett has previously said securing the non-stop route was a “game-changer “that could inject up to $36 million a year into the local economy.

The State Government committed $14 million for capital works to accommodate infrastructure requirements for Commonwealth border services at domestic terminal T3.

Mr Barnett said tourism was an important contributor to WA’s economy, supporting 97,000 jobs and generating $9.6 billion from September 2015 to September 2016.